Not your typical sea of red

Have a big date planned on the 14th? Or would you rather spend it with your besties? Either way, we're calling a rally to ensure that you look and feel good no matter how you're spending V-Day and the rest of Love Month. And while we love our nude lippies for daily affairs, we're turning to a swipe of red for an all-around vibe of boldness mixed with sultry confidence. And we're not talking about your usual crimsons here. Ahead, check out these picks that will spice up your February.

Lipstick Queen Rear View Mirror Lip Lacquer in Fast Car Coral

Pucker up, doll, and give this bright ruby red lip a go! Inspired by the reflective surface of a shiny new car, thus its name, this gloss stick provides a gorgeous and high-shine swipe of colour that melts onto the lips like jelly. Plus, not only is it non-sticky and comfortable to wear but its slim design also makes it easy to carry in your purse for quick touch-ups through the rest of the day. Catch it at escentials starting 20 February.

Bobbi Brown Crushed Liquid Lip in Big Apple

Catch your crush's attention with this new liquid lip from Bobbi Brown. Combining the look of a liquid lip, the comfort of a balm and the plumping shine of a gloss, our top pick from this line would be this fun and playful shade of red-orange that will surely add an extra appeal to any look. Did we mention that it's also infused with a blend of superfruit extracts for some extra lip-lovin' when you wear it? Grab Big Apple and its 13 other shades starting 19 February at all Bobbi Brown counters.

Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick in Designer Blood

SGD 32/~USD23.60

Bright reds not your thing? If you're looking for something eye-catching but still mixes in a mysterious kind of sexiness into its appeal, this dark rusty red from Jeffree Star's cult-favourite Velour Liquid Lipstick line is the one for you. Velvety, transfer-proof, and non-drying, this bold colour will last through dining, kissing, or whatever you have set in mind for the occasion.

LANEIGE Silk Intense Lipstick Rose Collection in No. 013 Be My Rose

If muted reds are more up your alley, LANEIGE's Rose Collection that presents rosy colours with a more natural and muted shade variation is for you. Our favourite is No. 013 Be My Rose, which borders on a softer red-orange gradient that can easily add a subtle yet alluring flair to any look at any time of the day.

Albion Elegance Liquid Rouge Bijou in Citrus Red

SGD45/~USD33.19

Whether you're out to impress your beau, on the lookout for someone new, or are simply living your best single life, a lipstick that can keep up with your lifestyle, and overall aesthetic, is something you definitely need in your go-to purse. So as soon as we saw the precious gold packaging plus the vivid pigment of this Albion lippie, we knew that it deserves a place in our daily beauty arsenal. Delivering sharp gloss and deep colours reminiscent of polished bijous, not only is this Liquid Rouge in Citrus Red a beauty on the outside but it also has treatment ingredients to help hydrate, plump and protect the lips from dryness, roughness and UV rays. Talk about a lipstick that's as versatile, bold, and dynamic as its wearer.

BY TERRY Lip Expert Matte in Gypsy Wine

Edgy yet sophisticated, unpredictable yet precise, this deep mauve-y red is perfect for ladies who love a hint of adventure and pizazz in their relationships, romantic or not. Just like these ladies' dynamic personalities, the long-lasting, kiss-proof formula of this pick from BY TERRY gives the perfect dose of devil-may-care possibilities to its wearer during the month of love and beyond.

Going beyond the usual 'cleanse, moisturise, repeat'

Perfect, flawless, always photo-ready — these are just some of the things that we often admire and envy about celebrities. But ever since movements on redefining beauty and rectifying our rose-coloured view of their lives, we continuously learn that they, too, have things about their own skin and their own beauty that make them feel vulnerable. And it's not just a speck of freckle here or a barely visible acne mark there. There are times when they have to deal with serious skin conditions and remind us why proper care, regardless of what lifestyle you lead, matter.

So whether it's something as simple as learning to manage your skin type or a bigger skin issue you need to battle through, keep these important skincare lessons in mind, inspired by situations experienced by celebrities.

Accept that everyone has skin issues

We've all wondered if high-profile personalities always just wake up beaming with confidence, perfect messy-but-sexy hair and glowing skin. But as much as we'd like to believe so, that's really not the case — not even for royals. We're talking about Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton who reportedly has been suffering from eczema since a young age.

Other celebrities and personalities like Adele, Britney Spears and Cara Delevigne have also been very vocal about their own skin struggles. So if you ever wake up one day and feel like your skin has failed you yet again, know that everybody has their own ups and downs when it comes to their skin and that if it didn't make them less awesome, then it shouldn't hinder you from doing what you want either.

Get checked

Former Miss Universe and now actress and model Dayanara Torres recently announced on Instagram that she has been diagnosed with melanoma, a type of skin cancer. She described her discovery of the disease as "a big spot/mole [she] never paid attention to, even though it was new, it had been growing for years and had an uneven surface." She pointed out that her fiancé had been begging her to get it checked for a while and it was just until recently that she did, only to find out the unfortunate news. She then ended her post by saying that "PLEASE, never forget to take care of yourself. If you see something or feel something different in your body have it checked..."

We usually view check-ups and physical examinations as a procedure meant just for our internal health. However, we forget that the skin is our biggest organ and that it needs to be monitored, too. Going to the dermatologist is often viewed as a luxury but given that our skin is at the frontlines of everything we do and it is the one exposed to many harmful factors every single day, it should be enough indication that we have to also make sure it's in its top condition.

Don't just cover it up — medicate!

We all know Kim Kardashian for her always-on-point makeup looks and bold fashion choices but it's worth noting that the main sister of KUWTK also has her share of skin woes. After opening up in 2016 about discovering that she has psoriasis, she has often gone on social media to ask for medication recommendations from her fans and even pointed out to tabloids that her skin condition is more than just "bad skin."

Whether you like her or hate her, Kim K. talking about her skin issues, especially given her influence, makes for a great example of why talking about skin conditions and getting them treated should be normalised. In fact, it shouldn't be viewed as superficial at all. There will always be situations where Band-Aids or makeup wouldn't be enough to cover an abrasion and just letting it be in the fear of being judged for vanity is but a ridiculous notion. At the end of the day, skin conditions are just like any other ailment and getting medicated is still the best chance to get actual results.

At the end of the day, stick to what you feel confident in

The tricky thing about learning from celebrities, models and other famous personalities is that we are still often sceptical even if they bare their vulnerabilities. Sure, the lessons mentioned previously are very important and atypical from the usual 'cleanse, moisturise, repeat' tips you see often, but it's understandable if you feel like what works for A-listers may not necessarily apply to you. So from one non-celebrity to the next, we're also pitching in our own skincare lesson into the mix.

Alicia Keys made headlines last year for going makeup-free on most of her shoots and TV appearances

Once you've accepted that everyone has skincare issues, decided to do skin check-ups and proper diagnosis, and have gone on and proceeded to medicate (if needed), at the end of the day, it's all about feeling confident despite knowing that you have 'imperfections'. It's a long journey, which most of us take years to master, but you don't have to jump on 'bare face challenges', 'show your tiger stripes' movements, or anything similar unless you are ready to do so. Don't feel pressured by celebrities stepping up and 'going bare' but rather use their stories to be empowered and inspired to do good on your own holistic being. Show confidence in your own skin — literally and figuratively — in your own way and don't get fixated on skincare just for vanity but for your own health.

Bigger and better

ICYMI, we did a product review on cult-favourite Pixi Glow Tonic. The verdict? Definitely worth the hype. Aside from the nice gentle exfoliation it delivers, we also found it to be hydrating and, surprisingly, was even able to reduce acne occurrence. If you're just as much of a fan of this skincare goodie as we are, you'd be delighted to know that Pixi Beauty launched a jumbo-sized version of the Glow Tonic that comes with a nifty pump. The catch is that it's limited-edition so you better snag one now.

To get you hyped up for this exciting release, watch the video and see what the buzz is all about.